Improvement in fire-escapes



ATE T MARTIN I ELDREDGE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FlRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,602, dated April 6, 1875; application filed March 1, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 1VIARTIN F. ELDREDGE, of Lynn, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an isomctrical perspective view, showing my improved fire-escape in use.

My invention relates to that class of fire-escapes which are designed to be erected upon the outside of a burning building, being elevated from the ground and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a simpler, cheaper, and more effective device of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

The-extreme simplicity of my invention renders an elaborate description unnecessary, the illYBIltiOll being fully illustrated in the draw ing, in which A B represent sections or masts, jointed or coupled together at O, forming an extensible derrick, provided at the upper end with the flaring curved prongs or hooks D. A chain or fire-proof cord, M, passes through a sheave, E, disposed in the upper section of the derrick, and is connected with the hoop or ring F, which is arranged to work or slide freely thereon. Supported by the hoop there is an ordinary tackle-and-fall, consisting of the cord H and blocks G I, provided with a hook,

J, to which is suspended the carriage K, having the halter-hook and cord L.

It will be obvious to all conversant with such matters that, in the use of my improved fireescape, it may be readily erected against the side of a burning building, and the carriage K elevated to bring it contiguous to a window or any other part of the building desired, as many sections being used to extend or lengthen the derrick as may be found necessary.

The object of the hoop F is to permit the upper end of the derrick to be extended over the roof, or any projecting portion of the building, without interfering with the tackle-and-fall, and also to permit the more rapid lowering of the carriage K, the cords M and H being both allowed to run at the same time in case of neccssity.

I am aware that a tireescape has heretofore been made in which a jointed or sectional stat't', bearing rollers and a sheave on its end, are in combination with a rope, sliding frame, and box, and hence I do not claim such a combination; but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The sectional mast A B, bearing at the end the duplex claws D and sheave E, cord M, and ring E, in combination with the tackle G H I J and box K, all constructed and operated as set forth.

MARTIN F. ELDREDGE. Witnesses:

H. E. ME'ICALF,

A. A. RICHARDSON. 

